No. 23: Austin
Score: 31.8
'Austin’s pro teams and permanent events have been around for combined total of just 72 years, but its résumé is diverse: Both Dell Diamond, the home of the Class AAA Round Rock Express that opened in 2000, and Circuit of the Americas track, which debuted 12 years later, host multiple events; the University of Texas’ new Moody Center is already one of college’s busiest arenas; Austin FC plays in the new Q2 Stadium; and the city will host this spring’s NCAA’s Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Austin has six properties and had the highest positive sentiment score of any market outside our top 10. Hotel rates are higher than Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, but neighboring Round Rock’s rates are among the lowest in our study.
1,750
Labor hours required to rebuild the playing field and berms of the 23-year-old Dell Diamond, home of the Class AAA Round Rock Express, after AMC converted the ballpark to a six-month set for “Fear the Walking Dead.”
Sponsors (20): Tito’s is the PGA Tour’s official vodka and has more than 50 deals nationwide. Vrbo title sponsors the Fiesta Bowl.
What they’re saying: “As popular as it has become, it still feels like a market people have yet to discover, which makes it an easier market to convince people to meet in.” — D.B.
